The Long County Lady Blue Tide softball team played their biggest game of the season when they welcomed in the AA second ranked Bacon County Raiders on Friday.

On a rainy afternoon, the Tide and Raiders battled to the final inning with the Raiders scoring three runs in the sixth inning and holding off a bases-loaded rally in the seventh to put away the top-ranked home team 4-3.

The Raiders took an early lead in the first inning as they scored on a single to center field.

Bacon County put two runners on with a walk and an error in the second before Gracie Wingate struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

MK Crews doubled to open the bottom of the second, the Tide couldn’t advance her.

The Tide loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, and Jersi Lester’s single to right brought in two runs for a 2-1 Long County lead.

Bacon County tied the game in the sixth on a single to left, and a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to center gave the Raiders a 4-2 lead.

Miley Maulden, on to run for Crews, who had walked, scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wingate led off with a single, and Alyssa Skipper followed with a single. Hollan Clark’s second single of the game appeared to load the bases, but a Tide runner was tagged out trying to get back to third base.

An intentional walk loaded the bases with two outs, but the Raiders got Lana Lewis on a line out to end the threat and the game.

The Tide fall to 16-4 on the season, but still have a good chance to finish as the number one seed in the 4A GHSA postseason rankings. They have guaranteed a home playoff series in the first round due to winning the region championship.

They will play finish the regular season with home games against Tattnall County on October 6 and First Preparatory Christian Academy on Wednesday.